Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho Cost of Living Comparison Between Basra and Zakho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Basra versus $879 in Zakho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,450 in Basra versus $1,278 in Zakho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Basra versus $1,676 in Zakho.

Living in Basra is roughly 9% more expensive than in Zakho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Basra 30% lower, Zakho 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 IQD 5,906

$7.73 IQD 10.1K

-41.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.88 IQD 40.4K

$44.26 IQD 58.0K

-30.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 IQD 9,712

$8.17 IQD 10.7K

-9.18%

Cappuccino

$2.55 IQD 3,345

$3.81 IQD 4,993

-33.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 IQD 571

$1.07 IQD 1,403

-58.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 IQD 445

$0.41 IQD 538

-17.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 IQD 5,113

$6.14 IQD 8,037

-36.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 IQD 5,398

$4.57 IQD 5,983

-9.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 IQD 1,462

$1.27 IQD 1,657

-11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 IQD 917

$0.82 IQD 1,069

-14.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 IQD 1,919

$1.76 IQD 2,308

-16.48%

Eggs

$1.82 IQD 2,380

$1.77 IQD 2,317

2.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 IQD 9,861

$8.19 IQD 10.7K

-8.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 IQD 8,333

$5.52 IQD 7,228

15.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.04 IQD 18.4K

$14.97 IQD 19.6K

-6.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,273

$1.10 IQD 1,439

-11.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 IQD 1,776

$1.11 IQD 1,457

22.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 IQD 1,274

$1.23 IQD 1,614

-21.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.80 IQD 1,042

-18.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 IQD 1,013

$0.74 IQD 973

4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 IQD 856

$0.73 IQD 958

-10.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 IQD 1,133

$0.80 IQD 1,046

8.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 IQD 509

$0.59 IQD 772

-33.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.08 IQD 2,726

$2.45 IQD 3,211

-15.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 IQD 8,823

$12.65 IQD 16.6K

-46.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 IQD 4,073

$1.70 IQD 2,231

82.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 IQD 5,135

$2.06 IQD 2,697

90.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 IQD 784

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 IQD 24.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.36 IQD 3,089

$1.96 IQD 2,570

20.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 IQD 2,967

$1.79 IQD 2,341

26.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.06 IQD 9,240

$6.61 IQD 8,654

6.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 IQD 783

$0.68 IQD 892

-11.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$13.5K IQD 17.7M

$17.7K IQD 23.2M

-23.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K IQD 30.4M

$19.8K IQD 25.9M

17.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$51.4 IQD 67.3K

$127 IQD 166.0K

-59.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.89 IQD 33.9K

$13.60 IQD 17.8K

90.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.73 IQD 52.0K

$28.07 IQD 36.8K

41.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.24 IQD 47.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.93 IQD 18.2K

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 IQD 9,955

$11.44 IQD 15.0K

-33.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$127 IQD 166.6K

$317 IQD 414.5K

-59.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,881 IQD 5.1M

$3,093 IQD 4.1M

25.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.97 IQD 65.4K

$30.48 IQD 39.9K

63.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.04 IQD 26.2K

$19.73 IQD 25.8K

1.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

$50.6 IQD 66.2K

52.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.43 IQD 54.3K

$39.77 IQD 52.1K

4.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 IQD 624.8K

$115 IQD 151.2K

313.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 IQD 453.0K

$223 IQD 291.7K

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 IQD 1.1M

$315 IQD 412.6K

170.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 IQD 819.5K

$276 IQD 361.1K

126.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 IQD 2.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$786 IQD 1.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$777 IQD 1.0M

$657 IQD 860.6K

18.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

2.53

124.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Basra: September 14, 2026

Last update for Zakho: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Basra and $115 in Zakho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Basra pays 18% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $31.00 in Basra vs $44.00 in Zakho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $205 per month, with Basra cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Basra vs Zakho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Basra and Zakho differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $879 including rent). Zakho is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 18% higher in Basra, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Basra versus $115 in Zakho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $127 in Basra versus $317 in Zakho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Zakho – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $31.00 in Basra. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $879 in Zakho versus $957 in Basra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zakho but tight or insufficient in Basra. The gap between the two cities makes Zakho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Basra and Zakho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zakho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Basra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.